Al Najm ( The Star) (53)- 62
1 By the Star when it goes down
2 Your Companion is neither astray nor being misled
3 Nor does he say (aught) of (his own) Desire.
4 It is no less than inspiration sent down to him:
5 He was taught by one mighty in Power
6 Endued with Wisdom: For he appeared (in stately form)
7 While he was in the highest part of the horizon:
8 Then he approached and came closer
9 And was at a distance of but two bow-lengths or (even) nearer;
#5089 Two bow-shots (counting 100 to 150 yards to a bow-shot) would be a clearly visible distance.#
10 So did (Allah) convey the inspiration to His Servant (conveyed) what He (meant) to convey.
#5090 Gabriel would be just a messenger, to do no more than convey Allah's Message to Allah's Messenger.#
*** Not once does the Quran intimate that Muhammad was addressed by Allah directly.
It has always insisted that Gabriel was the angel who communicated Allah's message to him***
11 The (Prophet's) (mind and) heart in no way falsified that which he saw.
#5091 "Heart" in Arabic includes the faculty of intelligence as well as the faculty of feeling. The impression conveyed was pure truth; there was no illusion in it.#
12 Will ye then dispute with him concerning what he saw?
*** Of course they can 'dispute with him concerning what he saw' since they were not witnesses to the event and had only Muhammad's unsubstantiated story ***
13 For indeed he saw him at a second descent.
#5092 The first occasion when Gabriel appeared in a visible form was at the Mountain of Light, when he brought his first revelation beginning with Iqraa:. The second was at the Prophet's Miraj or Ascension: see Introduction to S. xvii.#
14 Near the Lote-tree beyond which none may pass:
#5093 For the Lote-tree in its literal meaning, see n. 3814 to xxxiv. 16. The wild Lote is thorny; under cultivation it yields good fruit and shade, and is symbolic of heavenly bliss, as here and in lvi. 28.#
15 Near it is the Garden of Abode.
#5094 The "Garden of Abode" (Jannat al-Mawa) lies close to the Lote-Tree and, in the opinion of some authorities, is so called because the souls of believers will find their abode therein#
*** The Lote tree is only found in the Quran in the manner explained and described ***
16 Behold the Lote-tree was shrouded (in mystery unspeakable!)
17 (His) sight never swerved nor did it go wrong!
18 For truly did he see of the Signs of his Lord the Greatest!
19 Have you seen Lat and Uzza
#5095 From the heights of divine Glory, we come back again to this sorry earth, with its base idolatries. We are asked to "look at this picture, and at that!" The three principal idols of Pagan Arab Idolatry were the goddesses Lat, Uzza, and Manat. Opinions differ as to their exact forms: one version is that Lat was in human shape, Uzza had its origin in a sacred tree, and Manat in a white stone.#
*** The followers of Muhammad continuously attack the pagan Arabs for their idolatry but very conveniently ignore the most irrefutable fact, that they actually follow every tradition and fetish of their pagan forefathers regarding the veneration of the Ka'ba, its
Black Stone and all the attendant acts associated with the Hajj/ Pilgrimage***
20 And another the third (goddess) Manat?
*** Very conveniently - and for otherwise a very embarrassing revelation - the interpreter glosses over and does not inform the reader that the three female deities of Lat, Uzza and Manat were actually the DAUGHTERS of the supreme ROCK god of the Ka'ba called Allah.
The above verse of the Quran is trying to deny this unpalatable but intimate relationship.
These three daughters were the subject of the INFAMOUS Muhammad's Satanic Verses - which he later recanted - whereby he was ALLEGEDLY tempted by SATAN to allow them to remain as Allah's consorts under his version of Islam.
None the less, Lat and Uzza are still very prominent in Muhammadan Islam as the Crescent (Lat) and Star (Uzza/Venus) on almost all Mosques and on many flags of the Muhammadan Muslim countries.
Originally this Surah of the Quran used to be read differently - according to the Hadiths of Ibn Ishaq and al Wakidi.
It was Satan who allegedly interjected the following verses into the mouth of the unsuspecting Muhammad:
"These are the elevated cranes: truly their intercession is dearly hoped for"
which verse used to follow 53:20 but was abrogated/removed by him for being 'offensive'.
Because of these concessions to the pagan Quraiysh, they became willing to convert to the new religion of 'Islam' and make peace with Muhammad.
Those of his followers who had earlier escaped to Abyssinia returned to Mecca***
21 What! for you the male sex and for Him the female?
#5096 To show Allah in human shape, or imagine sons or daughters of Allah, as if Allah were flesh, was in any case a derogation from the supreme glory of Allah, high above all creatures, even if the human shapes were invested with great beauty and majesty as in the Greek Pantheon. But when we consider in what low opinion Pagan Arabia held the female sex, it was particularly degrading to show Allah, or so-called daughters of Allah, in female shapes. Cf. xvi. 57-59, and n. 2082; also lii. 39, and n. 5073.#
*** The above verse is out of context and meaningless unless one knows the background of pagan Arabia's religion.
One of the important gods in the pagan Arabian pantheon in Mecca was the god Allah.
Of all the numerous other gods of Mecca, Allah was chosen by Muhammad as the One and Only God because he was easily identified with the God of the Jews 'Elohim'; ILAH in Arabic.
Allah of pagan Arabia had three daughters: al Lat (Moon); al Uzza (Venus) and al Manat (Fate).
Of the three, the most destructive was al Uzza (Venus) which required sacrifices, including humans.
Muhammad's Islam was not able to rid Allah of two of his daughters after all. They are associated with him in mosques and flags of 'Muslim' states as the Crescent (Moon) and Star (Venus).
Only a few Muhammadans in the whole world of more than one billion would know this fact.***
22 Behold such would be indeed a division most unfair!
23 These are nothing but names which ye have devised ye and your fathers for which Allah has sent down no authority (whatever). They follow nothing but conjecture and what their own souls desire! Even though there has already come to them Guidance from their Lord!
#5097 Cf. vii. 71; xii. 40, n. 1693. The divine names which they give to stocks and stones, or to heroes living or dead, or even to prophets and men of God, are but the creations of their own fancy. Whatever they were, they were not gods. (53.23) 5098 Cf. vi. 116. Conjecture is a dangerous thing in speaking of divine things. It follows lines which reflect the lusts of men's own hearts. Why not follow the divine guidance which comes through the prophets of Allah?#
*** It must be pointed out yet again, that Allah was the most important of the gods of Mecca and pagan Arabia.
Muhammad, very wisely kept the name of this god and METAMORPHOSED him into the One and Only God of Israel, similar to Elohim of the Hebrews.
Contrary to all of the interpreter's attempts to make it look as if Allah is God, the historical record of the Arabs proves beyond a shadow of a doubt that Allah was actually only the NAME of the supreme ROCK god of the pagan Quraiysh, embedded in the corner wall of the Ka'ba called the Black Stone.
In the final analysis, Muhammad's CULT is actually the entire religion of pagan Arabia wrapped in Muhammad's version of Islam***
24 Nay shall man have (just) anything he hankers after?
25> But it is to Allah that the End and the Beginning (of all things) belong.
26> How many so ever be the angels in the heavens their intercession will avail nothing except after Allah has given leave for whom He pleases and that he is acceptable to Him.
27> Those who believe not in the Hereafter name the angels with female names.
*** Muhammad's Quran is very ANTI FEMINIST. Why should angels be MALE only?***
28 But they have no knowledge therein. They follow nothing but conjecture; and conjecture avails nothing against Truth.
*** Since the whole of the Quran is literally the product of Muhammad's own imagination, actually representing his personal ALTER EGO, then the TRUTH that he is speaking of does NOT EXIST ***
29 Therefore shun those who turn away from Our Message and desire nothing but the life of this world.
*** The 'Islamic' records show that while Muhammad enjoyed the pleasures of this world, he did not hesitate to INDOCTRINATE his followers into desiring DEATH while PLUNDERING, SLAUGHTERING, RAPING,STEALING, ASSASSINATING and ENSLAVING all those whom he perceived as his enemies as well as all those who did not believe in him and his warped message ***
30> That is as far as knowledge will reach them. Verily thy Lord knoweth best those who stray from His path and He knoweth best those who receive guidance.
31> Yea to Allah belongs all that is in the heavens and on earth; so that He rewards those who do evil according to their deeds and He rewards those who do good with what is best.
32> Those who avoid great sins and shameful deeds, Only (falling into) small faults--verily thy Lord is ample in forgiveness. He knows you well when He brings you out of the earth and when ye are hidden in your mother's wombs therefore justify not yourselves. He knows best who it is that guards against evil.
*** Muhammad's Allah not only KNOWS humans well but he also is the one who PRE DESTINES them to go either to HELL or to Muhammad's vision of PARADISE through no fault of their own since they have no FREE WILL.
In this manner does Muhammd's Allah show his Mercy and Compassion ***
33 Seest thou one who turns back.
34 Gives a little then hardens (his heart)?
35 What! has he knowledge of the Unseen so that he can see?
53:36> Nay is he not acquainted with what is in the books of Moses
#5110 Books of Moses: apparently not the Pentateuch, in the Taurat, but some other book or books now lost. For example, the Book of the Wars of Jehovah is referred to in the Old Testament (Num. xxi. 14) but is now lost. The present Pentateuch has no clear message at all of a Life to come.#
***The concept of an AFTER LIFE was arrived at in post Biblical thought. It first appeared in 'concrete' form in
Ezekiel 37:12 "I will open your graves and bring you out of your graves. Your dead shall live, their corpses shall rise; awake and sing, you who lie in the dust".
During the period of the Second Temple, the Pharisees turned the resurrection of the body into a fundamental doctrine. This was carried even further by the New Testament.
The Quran of course copied from both since the pagan Arabian religion was extremely simple and primitive and this concept was not arrived at ***
37> And of Abraham who fulfilled his engagements?
38> If indeed thou ask them who it is that created the heavens and the earth they would be sure to say "Allah." Say: "See ye then? The things that ye invoke besides Allah can they if Allah wills some Penalty for me remove His Penalty? Or if He wills some Grace for me can they keep back His Grace?" Say: "Sufficient is Allah for me! In Him trust those who put their trust."
*** This verse asserts the obvious fact that the pagan Arabs had full knowledge of Allah.
Muhammad's polemic against the pagan Arabs was not based upon their ignorance of Allah - whom they knew very well - but because they ASSOCIATED other gods and goddesses with Allah ***
39 That man can have nothing but what he strives for;
40 That (the fruit of) his striving will soon come in sight;
41 Then will he be rewarded with a reward complete;
42> It is Allah that takes the souls (of men) at death: and those that die not (He takes) during their sleep: those on whom He has passed the decree of death He keeps back (from returning to life) but the rest He sends (to their bodies) for a term appointed. Verily in this are Signs for those who reflect.
*** Plagiarised from
Ezekiel 18:" 4 Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine; the soul that sinneth, it shall die. 5 But if a man is just, and do that which is lawful and right…***
43 What! Do they take for intercessors others besides Allah? Say: "Even if they have no power whatever and no intelligence?"
44> That it is He who Granteth Death and Life;
*** Plundered from
I Samuel 2:6" The Lord killeth, and maketh alive: He bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up***
45> That He did create in pairs male and female.
46 From a seed when lodged (in its place);
47> That He hath promised a Second Creation (raising of the Dead)
#5117 No less wonderful is the promise He has made about the raising of the dead, and a new fife in the Hereafter, and this is the subject of the eighth aphorism.#
*** In the Hebrew Bible, God never refers to any resurrection of the dead. On the contrary, He informs 'man' that he comes from dust and will return to dust as in
Genesis 3:" 19. In the sweat of your face shall you eat bread, till you return to the ground; for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust shall you return.20. And Adam called his wife's name Eve; because she was the mother of all living"
The resurrection concept was created by 'man' to satisfy his need to believe in an afterlife because he cannot accept the finality of death ***
48> That it is He Who giveth wealth and satisfaction;
*** This is a paraphrasing from
I Samuel 2:7" The Lord maketh poor and maketh rich: he bringeth low and lifteth
up"***
49> That He is the Lord of Sirius [Shi'ra];
#5119 The tenth aphorism refers to a mighty phenomenon of nature, the magnificent star Sirius, which is such a prominent object in the skies, in the early part of the solar year, say, from January to April. It is the brightest star in the firmament, and its bluish light causes wonder and terror in Pagan minds. The Pagan Arabs worshipped it as a divinity. But Allah is the Lord, Creator and Cherisher, of the most magnificent part of Creation, and worship is due to Him alone.#
*** The pagan Arabs had no detailed understanding of astronomy and Sirius was holy to the Egyptians not the pagan Arabs whose knowledge of Astronomy could not have reached above the level of ABYSMAL since they had no written records to keep track of the stars, unlike the civilized Egyptians and others ***
50 And that it is He Who destroyed the (powerful) ancient `Ad (people)
51 And the Thamud nor gave them a lease of perpetual life.
52> And before them the people of Noah for that they were (all) Most unjust and most insolent transgressors.
53> And He destroyed the Overthrown Cities (of Sodom and Gomorrah)
54> So that (ruins unknown) have covered them up.
55> Then which of the gifts of thy Lord (O man) wilt thou dispute about?
56> This is a Warner [natheer] of the (series of) Warners [nuthoor] of old!
*** Muhammad is here comparing himself to the prophets in the Bible of the Jews ***
58> No (soul) but Allah can lay it bare.
59 Do ye then wonder at this recital?
60 And will ye laugh and not weep
61> Wasting your time in vanities?
62> But fall ye down in prostration to Allah and adore (Him)!
*** When the verses of this Sura are read without the benefit of 'explanations', they make absolutely no sense whatsoever.
Even the most learned person in the Arabic language would not be able to explain their meaning without delving into the Bible and Rabbinical writings to find some association of possible relevance so that these verses would make sense ***